Ask 411 Music 02.21.08: Making My First Impressions

Posted by Blake Lauderback on 02.21.2008

I decided to jump in head first on day one, taking on Cobain being overrated, Neil Peart of Rush not being able to play the drums, disappearing musicians, greatest bass players in the history of rock, and everything else from jazz greats to Black Sabbath!

Welcome to the brand freakin' new Ask 411 Music! I am your new host for this magical educational journey, Blake Lauderback. I figure since I am asking you to divulge all of your questions to me, the least I can do is give you a little background info on myself.

I am 23 years old, living in the exciting state of Texas. I am married to a wonderful woman that loves me despite the insane number of times that I have asked, "Who's This?!?!" while we are listening to the radio. I have one beautiful daughter and another one waiting to make her grand entrance into life. To understand the meanings of my daughters' names is to understand my obsessions. First and foremost I am a music fanatic, but I am better known as "That guy obsessed with The Beatles," which explains why both of my daughters' names serve as reference to Beatles songs. Have no fear though, I will not beat the greatness of Liverpool's own into your head, nor am I under the impression that there is no music outside the Fab 4.

I have been around music my entire life. I grew up in and around church music before doing theater at a young age. I have been performing off and on for the better part of 20 years as a vocalist and a drummer. I have had the good fortune of playing with some fantastic local musicians in my life, playing everything from hard rock to blues to reggae to classic rock to a little jazz improv now and then. I am currently in the process of returning to school so that I might finish my degree in, you guessed it, music.

My actual field of study is music education. I was very fortunate to be surrounded by people that truly understood the benefits of an education in the arts while I was growing up, and through that, music has helped me through the most difficult times in my life. My ultimate goal is to be able to do the same for others. While some day I will be standing in a classroom discussing the values of theory and dynamics, my mission as of today is to use this space to educate of the almighty world of music, while hopefully creating discussions and independent thought amongst yourselves. With all of that exciting background out of the way, class is in session.

Beatles' Lyric of the Week:
Each week I will start us off with a little drop of knowledge from the masters.

"Without going out of my door, I can know all things on earth. Without looking out of my window I can know the ways of heaven. The farther one travels, the less one knows. The less one really knows" – The Inner Light

Before we break into the question and answer section (which is why we are here after all) lets go over a few guidelines for submitting your questions.

1. I am not the last guy that ran this column, nor the guy before him. I am told that I have the freedom to do things the way I want to, and frankly I plan on letting all of that power go straight to my head. Long story short, we do things my way now, bud.
2. I am a human being, with my very own opinions. Since you yourself are reading this, I am going to go out on the proverbial limb and say that you too are a human with the ability to form your own opinions. That is GREAT! I do not ever wish you to stop doing that. At the same time I do feel that I have the right to be treated respectfully, and that you have the right to expect the same from me. I am more than happy to debate music from here until the day I meet my maker, but I will not be treated like crap in the process.
3. I have no problem answering opinion questions provided that you are prepared for the fact that I might not answer the way you'd like. If you email me asking me to confirm for you that Fall Out Boy is the greatest band ever, you may be a tad disappointed, but feel free to attempt to make your case nonetheless. (Good luck with that one however.)
4. I am told that there is no way to predict the number of questions that come flooding into my inbox. I am sure there will be weeks where I will answer each and every question that is sent in with a level of information that is way more than you ever wanted. At the same time I am sure there will be weeks when I receive a ton of emails and that I might not get around to each and every one, or answer them all as in depth as you might like. It doesn't mean that we can't be friends…. At least not on my end.

The Questions – Round 1.
(I had some friends of mine get me started with a few inquiries.)

Q: I recently watched the movie "Across the Universe," and I noticed a few subtle in-jokes about The Beatles. Were these intentional, and is there any kind of list of what they are?

A: Across the Universe was released last year ('06) and is the brainchild of director Julie Taymor. It stars a cast of relatively unknowns with the exception Evan Rachel Woods, and a few bit appearances by the likes of Bono, Joe Cocker, and British comedian Eddie Izzard.

The plot centers on the two main characters, Jude and Lucy, and their experiences in the 1960's. The concept is that the movie uses the music of The Beatles to further the story line including I Want You (dealing with Max, Lucy's older brother, being drafted,) With a Little Help From My Friends (turned into a drinking song about partying with the guys,) While My Guitar Gently Weeps (the dark state of the world,) and I Am the Walrus (mostly about drug use.)

Almost every major character is strategically named after either a Beatles song title or a character within a Beatles song.

Jude – "Hey Jude"
Lucy – "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds"
Max – "Maxwell's Silver Hammer"
JoJo – "Get Back"
Sadie – "Sexy Sadie"
Prudence – "Dear Prudence"
Dr. Robert – "Dr. Robert"
Mr. Kite – "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite"
Molly – "Obla-di Obla-da"
Martha – "Martha My Dear"
Uncle Teddy – "Teddy Boy"
Daniel – "Rocky Raccoon"
Julia – "Julia"

In addition to the names there are several other little references. Including (but not limited to) the following:

1. The old man at the docks claims that he used to say the he would be retired When he turned sixty-four. An obvious reference to "When I'm Sixty-Four."
2. Sadie says that Max and Jude "look pretty clean cut, but who knows, you could have murdered your Grandma with a hammer." "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" is a song essentially about a serial killer that uses a hammer to do his bidding. Max is also seen holding a hammer in the film.
3. Prudence arrives on the scene in New York by climbing into the apartment through the window in the bathroom. There is a song on Abbey Road called "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window."
4. The Blue Meanies of Yellow Submarine fame make an appearance in the scene with Mr. Kite.
5. Dr. Robert's (Bono's) bus bears a striking resemblance to the bus from Magical Mystery Tour.
6. Jude, an artist, is drawing still life. He draws a green apple first, then cuts it open and begins drawing the half of the apple. These two symbols have stood for Apple Records, The Beatles self-owned label, since its inception in 1968. He eventually gets a job designing a logo for Sadie's new record label… a giant Strawberry that could also be considered a reference to Apple Records. (Get it! They're both fruit!)
7. Jude's village looks amazingly like the Liverpool suburb used for the "Free as a Bird" video from The Beatles Anthology, released in the mid-90's.
8. Sadie and JoJo's performance at the end of the film takes place on a rooftop, much like the Fab 4's last public performance… atop the roof of Abbey Road Studios. In reality the last song performed by The Beatles was "Get Back."
9. The club that Jude and Molly are dancing in at the very beginning of the film is set up to resemble the Cavern Club in Liverpool where The Beatles played frequently in the earliest stages of their career.

There may well be more allusions to the music and career of The Beatles, but this list is a good starting point. If you by chance catch anything else, send it in! I am a sucker for these types of things.



Q: I heard that a few years back Neil Peart told the rest of Rush that he couldn't record/perform with them because he was learning to play the drums. He is one of the best freaking drummers ever! Surely this is a joke, and if so, why did he REALLY delay working with them?

A: Actually, that description is partially true. Rush started of in 1968, and Neil Peart replaced John Rutsey behind the kit in 1974. It was at this time that Peart also took over almost all songwriting, orchestration arrangements, and even writing the lyrics themselves. Neil established himself as one of the premier drummers in all of music with his amazing chops, epic solos, and keen sense for the unusual drum part.

Around the turn of the century the band took a hiatus from their grueling schedule. It was during this break that Peart decided he wanted to change up the grip that he used. Up until that point Neil almost exclusively used what is called a "matched grip," which is the left hand position that you will see probably 95% of rock drummers use. It is typically viewed as the more powerful of the two options. In order to make the transition to playing "traditional grip," which you will see most jazz and classically trained drummers employ, he enlisted the legendary jazz drummer Freddy Gruber. Gruber basically tore apart Neil's technique and had him ultimately start over. The transition took some time, but in the end the work paid off. Peart has gone on record of saying that the transition allowed him to open up and play more fluidly, elongate his career, and even allowed him to maintain his infamous power, which was his biggest fear about changing up his style.

During all of this Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson approached Peart about heading back to the studio, and his reply was that he could not yet return, because he was learning how to play drums. Not to worry, as soon as he completed the transition he rejoined his band mates and they have since recorded two albums, Vapor Trails and Snakes and Arrows. (Albums #17 and #18 respectively.)



Recess
Each week recess will consist of a short list of a random topic, because as humans we are obsessed with organizing, ranking, and judging EVERYTHING! Well, at least I am. (Maybe I am alone, but the never-ending lists on VH1 tell me otherwise.) I will also throw in a recommendation for a forgotten CD that you should dust off if you own a copy or hop down to the record store and purchase if you don't. (Or download as you continue reading part 2, all while never leaving the comfort of your chair.)

This week's list… (Insert mental drum roll here)
Top Seven Bass Players in Rock History (Why Seven? Because I can never narrow it down to 5, and 10 was too much damn work.)

7. Jason Newstead (Metallica) – Metallica has had an impressive line of bass players, but I for one actually enjoy the Metallica (Black Album) era of Metallica the most.
6. Paul McCartney (The Beatles/Wings/Solo) – His ability is often overlooked, and along with Ringo, he formed one of the most rock solid rhythm sections. Check out some of his more memorable lines in songs like "Paperback Writer" and "Come Together."
5. Roger Waters (Pink Floyd/Solo) He wrote all of Dark Side of the Moon on his very own. That alone is impressive, never mind the other 30 years and a little album called The Wall
4. Geddy Lee (Rush) – A true prodigy at his instrument (just like everyone else in the damn band) I have never truly bought into him as a lead vocalist however. Hopefully Rush's recent appearance on both Guitar Hero and Rock Band will allow for another entire generation to be blown away by their musical prowess.
3. Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) – He brings an unusual combination of funk, jazz, and rock to the table. His funky grooves have inspired an entire generation, and kept funk alive. I for one am a huge fan of RHCP's most recent work, Stadium Arcadium.
2. John Enstwhistle (The Who) - He is often overlooked in his own band. It is easy to be missed playing along side Townsend and Moon the Loon. The Who have made a career out of having Townsend's blaring electric guitar keep time while Moon and Enstwhistle soar all over the place. He even occasionally threw in a few songs of his own like "My Wife" on Who's Next
1. John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) – Narrowly wins out because not only is he a brilliant bass player, but also brings the ability to rock out on the keys and bring in some amazing orchestrations. Songs like "Black Dog," "Rock and Roll," and "Oceans" would never be the same without his influence.

Forgotten Classic:



In honor of black history month (and the fact that I have been in a jazz sort of mood,) I suggest breaking out a bottle of wine or the beverage of choice (Kool-Aid to all you young ones) and chilling in front of a fire with a little Miles Davis, specifically Bitch's Brew. You can actually hear him turning jazz on its ear, and he is one of the few jazz legends to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Questions – Part 2

Q: Is Kurt Cobain overrated, or do you think he deserves all of the praise he receives?

A: Kurt Cobain served as a fantastic catalyst for change in the early 90's. I cannot deny that I am grateful for his saving us from the hair bands, and while I certainly think that he is a VERY talented songwriter, I would have to say that I feel he is a tad overrated.

Many feel that the grunge movement would have happened with or without Mr. Cobain. Pearl Jam was set to release Ten before Nirvana's Nevermind. Technical difficulties changed history forever by forcing Pearl Jam to hold off for a few more weeks. To be perfectly honest I am not entirely convinced that he was even the most talented guy in Nirvana. The last decade has proved that Dave Grohl is a genius in his own right with a fantastic career Post-Kurt with the Foo Fighters and playing in his side projects like Probot, or the likes of Queens of the Stone Age and Tenacious D.

Not to take away from the gifts that he gave us, but I think Kurt's legend has been greatly enhanced by his death. Then again, there is no way to know what would have been next for him, just like the many greats before him that went too early.



Q: I am a big Weezer fan and I was listening to the Green Album the other day. I remember there being a video for the song "Hash Pipe" with four members in the band. The next single off the album was "Island in the Sun," and in the video there are only three members. I think it's the guitar player that is missing (Not Rivers.) What gives?

A: It is actually the bass player, Mikey Welsh that left the band. It is Welsh that is featured on the Weezer (Green Album,) and he also appears in the video for "Hash Pipe." Weezer filmed the video for their second single with just the three remaining members, Rivers, Patrick, and Brian. Soon after filming Mikey was replaced by the current bassist Scott Shriner. Mikey was actually not the original bassist for the band, as he had replaced Matt Sharp, bass player numero uno, who had gone on to work more with his other band, The Rentals shortly after Weezer recorded their sophomore album Pinkerton.



Q: I just started taking an interest in the Blues. I have really started to enjoy the work of Stevie Ray Vaughn and Eric Clapton, but I want to get into some of the older stuff. Any suggestions?

A: Absolutely. First of all, it is great to hear of new fans digging into the rich history of Blues. Whether we realize it or not the blues is crucial to the evolution of every aspect of popular music that we enjoy today. In fact it is considered one half of the formula (along with country… which is the only nice thing I can say for country music) of the origins of Rock n' Roll. As far as individual artists to check out, there are a few obvious ones. B.B. King is one of the biggest legends of the genre. Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, and Howlin' Wolf have also put out their share of classics themselves. One of my personal suggestions would be to look up Buddy Guy as he is one of my favorites.

The jump from the guys you mentioned to the old school blues can be a hell of a jump. If you are looking for some help "transitioning" you might take a look at some more recent contributions, like Clapton and King's Riding With The King. It is a great bridge between the eras. I also recommend locating a copy of the DVD of Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival, that was filmed right here in my neck of the woods. It features some more modern guitar greats like Steve Vai, Robert Randolph, and John Mayer, while also bringing out countless legends including the afore mentioned Buddy Guy. There are some fantastic jams with people you would never expect to find on the same stage. There is even an appearance of Stevie's little brother, Jimmy, who to my knowledge is still out on the road with big brother's backing band, Double Trouble.

My biggest suggestion for immersing yourself into the world of the blues is to ask around and find a local blues bar. There is no better way in my humble opinion to experience the genre than in a hole in the wall bar with a couple of drinks.



Q: I was wandering around Best Buy the other day and I found a live CD by The John Mayer Trio. Is this group any different from Mayer's solo work, or is it pretty much the same sounding stuff like Dave Matthews' solo CD's?

A: The John Mayer Trio has quite a different sound than Mayer's usual projects. They have only released one album to date, and that is the live album in question, Try! It was released between Mayer's second solo album, Heavier Things, and his third, Continuum. The trio consists of, obviously, John Mayer on guitar, Steve Jordan on drums, and Pino Palladino on bass.

Jordan has had a long career as a studio drummer and producer. He has played with a very odd assortment that includes the Blue Brothers, Aretha Franklin, The Pretenders, and even The Rolling Stones. He actually went on to produce Continuum for Mayer.

Pino Palladino is a great bassist in his own right. He is no stranger to playing for big names, as he has spent time working with Rick Springfield, David Gilmour, Elton John, and is currently making rounds with The Who.

The Trio's sound in harder, bluesier, and dirtier than Mayer's typical work. I highly recommend giving it a listen. My favorite tracks from the project are "Gravity," "Who Did You Think I Was," and a brilliant cover of Ray Charles' "I Got A Woman."



The Encore –
Every week I will wrap up with a little useless bit of trivia for you to use to wow your friends. For now we will be focusing on where bands have gotten their names. This week's band name is…

Black Sabbath – There are a few different versions floating around in regards to where Ozzy, Iommi, Ward, and Butler took their darkly inspired name from. "Black Sabbath" is the name of an old horror movie staring Boris Karloff, of Frankenstein fame, to which many people credit the name. Others believe that the guys picked up the name from the book Black Sabbath by occult writer Dennis Wheatley. Bassist Geezer Butler actually wrote the song of the same name before the band adopted the new nomenclature. The band's original name was Polka Tulk, which the soon changed to Earth. The played under Earth until they learned that there was another band out there that was already using the name. The new name, regardless of which origin story is true, carried the band to their highest levels of success, where they became one of the bands to originate the sound of hard rock/ heavy metal.

Well, that wraps up this weeks session. Your homework assignment for the week is to send me some freaking questions!!! I want them in my inbox by Monday morning. I look forward to hearing from you all.

Class dismissed.